Water-supply system and valve therefor



i 1,631,142 June 7 1927. J H- MASTERS WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND VALVE THEREFOR Filed June l2. 1920 Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED Asrivriais PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HOWARD MASTERS,- OF DAYTON, OHIC, AssIeNoit To THE vAInE-xmns con- PANY, or DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO.-

'WATER-SUPPLY SYSTEM Application d led il'une 12,A

This invention relates to water supply systems and valves therefor.

In order that the principle-of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment of the system and of said valve in the accompanying drawing, wherein- ,K

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, more`or less diagrammatic, of a pneumatic watersupply system showing a fresh water or direct pressure branch intermediate the pump and storage tank and indicating the improved valve of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the improved valve used in and constituting a part of my system;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the valve casing shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal transverse section' upon the line 4--4 of Fig. 2 'and looking downward in said figure.

My invention particularly relates to an improved automatically controlled water supply system and valve therefor, primarily for domestic water service wherein the water from a static water supply source is pumped into a compression tank as a shortage supply under pressure, converting the static water in the tank to dynamic form at the 3o fixtures or service outlets.

In accordance with my invention I combine in an improved manner the pneumatic water supply system with a direct pump @essure service or branch rendering the pumping apparatus and automatic controlling device of the pneumatic water supply service available for auxiliary purposes anc uses to furnish a supply of fresh water direct from the well, or other main supply source, so that ajoint or independent service of either vcan be had.

y In accordance with my invention, I provide a water supply system including a storage tank and connected pumping apparatus for maintaining the tank water supply, with means interposed and connecting with the A piping system between the pumping appa- Y ratus and the tank, and provide a branch circuit for a direct pump ressure supply water service, together with 1mproved'check ing means for said tank against a drawing or tank draining counteriiow of water, but non-interfering with they operation of the pressure-actuated inotovcontrolling device.

VALVE '.lHlEB'lllFOR'.

1920. Serial N0. 388,604.

The improved checking means constituting a part of my invention elimina-tesk all noise in the drawing of fresh water, and also provides a valve acting with certainty at all times, and thus overcomes objections inci dent to the operation of that type of checking means disclosed in the patent to Hugh IV. Kimes, No.11,247,544, dated November'20, 1917, and upon which this invention is an improvement. Referring more particularly to the drawing and first to Fig. 1,l I have therein indi# cated at'l a pump mounted upon a support' 2 and connected'to any suitable water supply source by means of a pipe 3 and in series including a vacuum chamber fitting 3. The pump is driven in any suitable manner and preferably by an electric motor 215 connected by a belt 5 with the liy wheel 6 of the-pump. The motor is desirably controlled by a switch device 6 operating under the influence of the pressure in the system for starting and stopping the motor. The electric switch mechanism may be of any well known type, and detailed description of its working parts need not be herein included. The said switch mechanism indicated generally at 6 connects with the system pipe through a pipe 7, and the switch functions after the supply and pressure in the storage 'tank 8 has been reduced to a determined degree,` for starting -the motor in the pump and permitting the same to continue in operation until a predetermined storage supply and pressure is again restored. .Any form of pump and automatically controlled power apparatus l therefor may be used in the water supply system within the scope of the invention, and as such apparatus is well known in the art,

a detailed description thereof is not neces- I sary. I y

The pump 1 communicates with the tank 8 through the piping 9 for supplying water to the tank under the pressure of the pump, and I have indicated at 10 the pipe connection with the tank 8 as a service supply line leading to the various outlets. As the system is primarily intended for use as a do mestic water supply' outfit, the tank 8 is of a capacity to permit the usual water consumption requirements for a given period without calling for a continued, operation of the pumping apparatus, and the tank is important tothe successful operation for mainnoise.

taining a constant pressure to the service outlets. y

The water in the tank 8 sometimes remains in storage for a sufficient eriod to raise its temperature above that irectly furnished from a supply source, whichis dueto a small consumption of the water jin storage, and therefore it is sometimes desirable to have a fresh water supply independent of the tank, which may be utilized as a direct outlet for a continued consumption of water without exhausting the storage supply and supplied under direct pumping pressure for a cold water supply. l

It is desirable for the safety of the system to install a relief valve, and I have indicated such a valve at 11 as connected in series with the pipe system 9 leading from the pump to the storage tank. vThe said relief valve 1s controlled by the influence of the varying pressure in the system, opening to relieve or prevent any excessive system pressure and an escape of the water supply from the pump principally due to the continuing operation of the pump by reason of the automatic switch or other motor controlling devices failing promptly to respond to an effective or influencing degree of pressure. Desirably for this purpose I use a relief valve such as shown in the said patent to Kimes, No. 1.247,544. In providing a fresh water or continued supply branch in connection with a pneu-4 matic water supplysystem including a storage tank and providing a supply independent of the storage tank, I provide improved water check devices in series with the piping between the pumping apparatus and the tank, non-interfering to or with the pressure influencing devices, or capable of approximately checking a counterlowv or escape of the storage water in the tank and operating with certainty and substantially without Such improved checking device I, have indicated generally at 13, it being placedin series with the system pi ing be- Q tween the pump and tank. Such wa er checkI device or fitting, as most clearly indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, comprises a body 14 con stituting also a pipe coupling providing a water check valve between the tank and the pump. A web 15 desirably integral with the body 14 extends across the chamber of the body to divide the same and is provided with a `suitable opening 16 constituting a valve seat, or if desired equipped with a separate valve seat, to receive a Suitable valve 17 herein represented as vertically positioned, so as to operate in whole or in part by gravity.

The body 14 is provided with a threaded opening 18 communicating with the pipe system 9 leading from the pump land is also provided with a threaded opening 19 communicating with that portion of the piping system 9 leadin to and communicating with the tank 8. T e body 14 is also provided with an opening 20 from which leads a 'pipe 21 for a direct fresh water supply branch extending to the service point desired with the delivery capacity of the pump and provided with suitable valves or cock controlled outlets.

I have herein represented the pipe 21 more or less diagrammatically as extended upwardly and provided with a cock 22 for sealing the branch when not in use, so as not to interfere with the normal operation of the system.

The upper pat of the web 15 is desirably cylindrical in transverse section, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, so as to provide a chamber 23 above the valve 17, and in such cylindrical portion of the web 15, I provide one or more small openings indicated at 24 in Fig. 2.

The body portion 14 is preferably prolonged downwardly as indicated at\25 in Fig. 2, so as to provide a chamber 26 below the bottom of the valve, such chamber preferably being closed by a threaded nut 27.

Preferably the check valve 17 is provided 'with a stem 28 extending into the prolonga- -tion 25 and is there provided with a pistonlike enlargement 29' having a small opening 30. Above the head of the valve 17 I provide a reduced. part 31 terminating in a piston-like enlargement or head 32 fitting snuglyl within the cylindrical part of the web 15, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. The

inner face of the cylindrical portion of the web 15 is threaded as indicated at 33 in Fig. 2 to receivea threaded nut 34 which if desired may be recessed to rovide a central projection 35 receiving a out it a coiled spring 36, which is thus positioned between the said nut 34 and the upper surface of the piston-like head 32 of the valve 17.

Preferably the head of the valve 17 is provided with a suitable opening, such as a slot or groove 37 to keep the water pressure equalized on both sides of the valve. If

the passage 37 were not employed in some suitable embodiment thereof, and the fresh water fixture leaked or was not turned off tight, so that the water continued to run slightly, the pump 1 would startend would thereafter continueto start and stop. The presence of the passage 37 permits the water from the tank to flow past the valve and equalize the pressure upon both sides of such valve, thus eliminating improper starting and stopping of the pump 1.` Y

In certain earlier embodiments of a System for the same general purpose as that herein disclosed,-that is for -permitting cold Water to be drawn directly from the source of supply through the action of a pump, instead of from the storage tank,

difHcult-y was experienced in that every beat vof the pump caused a pulsation of 4water fore. eration of the valve, but it wholly eliminates in theedischarge line therefrom, and the check valve -employed to permit thefproper functioning of the system in drawing of fresh water, would work with such pulsations, thereby lifting Yfrom its seat with such force as to cause a metallic click. This not only caused an improper operation of the system. in that the check valve was constantpiston-like head 29 respectively, permit` water of the system to enter the chambers or pockets 23, 26, thereby in operation wholly preventing the valve 17 from moving with pulsations .of the pump 1 as hereto- This not only, results in correct opthe objectionablenoise above referred to. The coil spring 36, bearing, as it does, upon the piston-like portion 32 of the check valve, tendsr to keep such valve more stable and prevent its being improperly moved from its seat.

In operation, it w'll 'be assumed that the tank 8 has been led to its capacity and under a predetermined pressure that will automatically stop the pumping apparatus and permit the valve 17 to seat;I Should it, however, be desirable to draw fresh water, as for drinking purposes, the cock 22 of the fresh watefsupply branch 21 is opened, thus immediately lowering the pressure in the pipe 9 between the check valve 13 and the electric switch mechanism 6', thus starting the motor, which operates the pump and forces thetl fresh water through the pipe 21 and the service outlet. The pumping apparatus continues in` operation during such service period.

Upon closing the cock 22, the pressure in the system pipe or service line is increased to that degree which influences .the switching device for throwing the pumping apparatus out of commission, provided there has been no appreciable loss or reduction in the tank pressure or consumption of the static water supply, Iand if'such loss or reduction has occurred, it is restoredbefore the pumping apparatus stops.

. By the construction herein "disclosed, I`

am enabled with certainty of action and without noise in the system, to get an abundant supply of fresh water direct from the well or other source at will for any desired purpose.

Havingthus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be .understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposesv of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims: 1. In av water check device for a water supply system, a valve casing having a web therein, a portion of which web is transverse to the axis of the valve and is provided with a valve opening, and a portion of which web, constituting an upward continuation of said transverse portion, extends lengthwise the stem of said valve and constitutes a prolonged, substantially cylindrical, receiving and guiding portion at one side of the valve, a valve seated in said openin and having upon its stem above said va ve opening 'a piston-like portion received and guided by said lengthwise extending portion of said web, and means to'permit water of the system to pocket between the said iston-like portion and the valve casing.'

2. n a .water check' device for a water supply system, a valve casing having a web therein, a portion of which web is transverse to the axis of the valve and is provided with a valve opening, anda portion of vwhich web, constituting an upward continuation of said transverse portion, extends lengthwise the stem of said valve and` constitutes a prolonged, substantially cylindrical, receiving and guiding portion at one side of the valve, a valve seated in said openin and having upon its. stemr above said va ve openina piston-like portion received and guided y said lengthwise extendingV portion of said web, and means to permit water of the system to pocket between the said piston-like portion and the valve casing, said piston-like portion being of greater cross sectional area than 'the valve and thereby serving .effectively to guide the latter without binding.

Ina check device for water supply systems, a valve casing 14 having a prolonged,

substantially cylindrical web 15 and an opening 16 in a transverse bottom portion of said web,`a valve 17 adapted to seat in .said opening and having piston parts 29, 32,

respectively below and above the said valve and adapted to slide in water-pocketing portions of said casing 14 and web 15 respectively, and means to admit water of the system to tlie'outer faces of the piston parts 29, 32.

4. In a check device for water supply systems, a casing 14 having a web 15fprovided with a prolonged, cylindrical portion having an opening 24, said web 15 having in a transverse bottom part thereof a valve lll) opening 16 and a valve 17 adapted to seat 1n said opening and having piston portions 29,. 32 respectively below and above the said valve and` adapted to slide in water-pocketing portions of said casing 14 and web 15 respectively, the said piston portion 29 having an opening 30.-

5. In a check device for water supply systems, a casing 14 provided with a prolonged, substantially cylindrical web 15 having a valve opening 16 in a transverse bottom portion of said web, a valve 17 adapted to seatin said valve opening 16 and having a water passage 37, said valve having piston heads at each end constituting guiding means, one of which is guided by the casing 14 and the other by said cylindrical web 15, and means to admit water of the system at the outer faces of both the piston heads, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a water check device for a water supply system, a valve casing having a web therein, said web being provided with a cylindrical guiding portion and having a continuous bottom portion below and transverse to said guiding portion and provided with a valve opening, a valve adapted to be seated in said opening and having a greatly enlarged piston-like portion received in and guided by said cylindrical portion, the stem of said valve extending below said transverse portion of said web and having an enlarged end, a closed portion provided directly in said casing to receive the lower enlarged end of said valve stem, and means to admit Water of the system above said piston-like portion and also below said enlarged end.

7. In a water check device for a water supply system, a valve casing having a web therein, said web being provided with a cylindrical guiding portion, and having a continuous bottom portion below and transverse to said guiding portion and 4provided with a valve opening, a valve adapted to be seated in said opening and having a greatly enlarged piston-like portion received in and guided by said cylindrical portion, the stein of said valve extending below said transverse portion of said web and having anenlarged end, a closed portion provided in said casing \to receive the lower enlarged end of said valve stem, and means to admit water of the system above said piston-like portion and also below said enlarged end, the valve being provided with a leak port 37 to equalize the water pressure at both faces of the valve.

8. In a water check device for a water supply system, a valve casing having a web therein provided with'a cylindrical guiding portion, said web having, as a direct continuation thereof, a portion-below and transverse thereto and provided with a valve opening, a valve adapted to be seated in said opening and having a greatly enlarged piston-like portion received in and guided by said cylindrical portion, the stem of said valve extendingv below said transverse portion of said web and having an enlarged end, a" closed portion provided in said casing to receive the lower enlarged end of said valve stem, and means including an opening in said cylindrical'portion' and an opening in said lower enlarged end of the valve stem to admit water of the system above said piston-like portion and also below said enlarged end, so that the water may pocket at both ends of the valve stem. l

9. In a water check device for a water supply system, a valve casing having a web therein provided with a cylindrical portion,l

said web having as a direct continuation thereof a portion below and transverse there.- to, and provided with a valve opening, a valve adapted to be seated in,said opening and having a greatly enlarged piston-like portion received in and guided by said cylindrical portion, the lstem of said valve eX- tending below said transverse portion of said `web and having an enlarged end, a closed portion provided in ysaid-casing to receive /the lower enlarged end of said valve stem, and means including an opening in ysaid cylindrical portion and ans/opening in said lower enlarged end of the valve stem, to admit water of the system above said pistonlike Portion and also below said enlarged end, so that the Watermay pocket at both ends of the valve stem, the valve being providedl with 'a leak port 37 to equalize the water pressure at both faces of the valve.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN HOWARD MASTERS. 

